§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will amend the rules of the farm woodland scheme to permit farmers to make more than one application per holding.
§ Mr. GummerExisting participants in the farm woodland scheme have shown interest in increasing their plantings under the scheme. The rule limiting them to one application per holding is preventing that. Agriculture Ministers have therefore decided from today to abolish the rule and to permit additional applications to be made up to the limit of 40 hectares per agricultural unit. I am pleased with the continuing interest in this innovative scheme which should bring environmental benefits for future generations.